Platters of steamed blue crabs, salads made from rosy-hued heirloom tomatoes and freshly dug potatoes from the Eastern Shore were spread out on Pete and Lynn Schultz’s kitchen counters recently.

By Rebecca Burcher Jones, Correspondent Big challenges don't discourage Ed and Linda Bradley. After all, the Chesapeake pair worked a collective six decades as juvenile probation officers in Norfolk before retiring. "You can't solve all the problems," said Ed, remembering their years as counselors. "You celebrate the little victories."

NORFOLK The idea of a musical about the Civil War conjures images of heartsick soldiers singing on blood-soaked battlefields. That is not what "Rappahannock County" is about. Instead, the new theater piece set to premiere here in April as part of the Virginia Arts Festival will present the personal wartime stories of 18 or so characters from one county in Virginia.

"A Man for All Seasons," the slice of ham dragged out for one more banquet in the Virginia Shakespeare Festival, showcases fine acting even if it does, as always, go on forever.

Pauline Parker stood in a dining area of the Chesapeake Grill on the Bay Bridge-Tunnel and snapped a photo of the view outdoors: stretches of the water as far as she could see, a tanker on the horizon, families fishing from the pier.
The view was much different before the eatery changed hands. This rear wall was more wall than window.

"Charlie St. Cloud" is definitely not for cynics.
It's a fantasy-romance that mixes "The Sixth Sense" (the hero sees dead people) and "Ghost" (and finds otherworldly romance). While those are obvious references, it has none of the scariness of the first or the passion of the second.

"Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" had a chance to become a classic. It missed.

During the Q&A session at the end of a shareholders' meeting in Virginia Beach last month, a customer asked Dollar Tree CEO Bob Sasser if he would consider playing different music in the company's 3,900 discount stores.

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After Ellen quit "Idol" rumors are flying that Jennifer Lopez will take her place. Laurence Fishburne's 19-year-old daughter is starring in a sex tape because she "watched how successful Kim Kardashian became." Whoops! This page didn't re-direct to the proper Web page. Please click here. Thank you!